A Slice of Heaven

It was a little slice of heaven. Located in an unlikely spot, the center of Jersey City, New Jersey, Heaven visited earth on Sunday. Harvest City Bible Fellowship, a largely Philippine congregation, opened its doors to their second anniversary. I was invited to be a part since we are a supporting partner through our Advance 2020 initiative and, by my count, was only one of three Anglos in the room.

The fellowship, which culminated in a feast at the end of worship that lasted more than an hour, began as soon as we approached the building being leased for their church. The youth pastor, William, was already out front witnessing to kids passing on the street. The sound of the praise team was emanating from inside the building.

I listened for a while to the music, and realized that there were two or three language groups represented in the singing. I could not sing most of the songs, and sadly (as some of you know) neither could I dance as the rest of the congregation was doing. I learned that eight different ethnic groups worshiped together at Harvest.

The service concluded in a small, concrete-enclosed back yard with a baptismal service in an inflatable pool. My phone told me it was 55 degrees. The faces of those being immersed in the waters of baptism told me the water temperature was much lower!

Twelve were baptized that day, representing different age and ethnic groups. Each had a brief testimony that either they or Pastor Ed Ramos shared with the several dozen people who squeezed together to watch this celebration.

I think about it a lot… what Heaven must be like… but Sunday I got more than an passing idea. I got a taste of it… and folks, I can’t wait to get there!

After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands.
Revelation 7:9 NLT